Luxury Cruise Turns Into Hostage Situation Through Pirate Waters

• Passengers aboard Cunard’s Queen Anne were ordered to darken their cabins during overnight passage through the notorious Sulu and Celebes seas.
• Industrial water cannons are used as non-lethal deterrents against potential attackers in Southeast Asian waters.
• Emergency protocols during the 111-night world cruise caused a viral social media reaction with over 14 million views.

Cruise ships and luxury vessels are usually part of the headlines for their exceptional experiences, but sometimes they are put under the spotlight due to unexpected threats. We have seen examples of this in the past, such as the tragic sinking of superyacht Bayesian off Sicily’s coast, which claimed the lives of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and six others, or the November 2023 hijacking of cargo ship Galaxy Leader by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

And now, another such incident has occurred. A luxurious world cruise became tense as Cunard’s brand-new Queen Anne implemented emergency security protocols while navigating through piracy-prone waters in Southeast Asia during its maiden world voyage.

The Queen Anne is a 1,060-foot-long luxury liner that started its first 111-night global journey in January 2025 but found itself having to implement strict security measures when it sailed from Darwin, Australia, to Manila, Philippines. As soon as the vessel approached the notorious Sulu and Celebes seas — regions that have longstanding histories of pirate activity — Captain Inger Klein and crew members addressed the passengers through the ship’s public address system on 13 March 2025:

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“This area is known for piracy threats as reported in the world’s media. Therefore, we will be operating at a heightened level of security alertness during this period.”

What happened next was a set of blackout protocols that were designed to reduce the vessel’s visibility to potential threats. Guests were asked to switch off cabin lights, close their curtains completely, and stay away from decks and open windows until morning.

The ship’s usually vibrant promenade deck went dark and off-limits from 9 PM – 5 AM, and indoor dining spaces were dimmed and curtained. Even the ship’s TV screens displayed warning messages asking passengers to “Please stand by.” For many of the guests, who had boarded expecting Cunard’s trademark elegance, the sudden shift into stealth mode felt more like an action thriller than a luxury holiday.

The moment didn’t just stay confined to the ship. Passengers went on social media and captured eerie footage of the ship’s silent decks and mounted high-pressure water cannons – industrial-grade gear designed to knock intruders off the side of the ship and make boarding attempts all but impossible.

These defensive systems are part of the standard equipment on many large vessels cruising through high-risk areas, but were unfamiliar to most luxury cruise passengers, making them even more worried.

The incident quickly received millions of views, and many passengers shared their concerns about being unaware of potential piracy risks when booking their expensive voyages. In response to the growing controversy, Cunard issued a statement stating that the measures were standard precautions taken while transiting through specific maritime zones and were in no way linked to a direct threat. The Queen Anne, they confirmed, remained on schedule, and onboard life – including dining, entertainment, and port arrivals – continued uninterrupted.

While the tense overnight journey may not have been in the brochure, the Queen Anne sailed on, and the 111-night itinerary remains ambitious, with stops planned across the Americas, Australasia, Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean.